Out to reverse October disappointment

19 November 2016

mkdons.com

The Dons have suffered their fair share of difficult results this season but none have stung more than the 3-3 draw with Bristol Rovers in October.

The men from MK1 twice led the Pirates by two goals, including holding a 3-1 advantage with less than five minutes to play, but the visitors from Bristol fought back on both occasions to earn themselves a share of the spoils and deny the Dons a first home success.

This weekend the two sides go head-to-head once again and caretaker boss views the Sky Bet League One fixture as an opportunity to reverse the hurt, as well as obviously secure what would be a welcome victory.

“It was tough,” Barker said about the previous meeting with Bristol Rovers. “It wasn't just about the result that night, but the performance as well. Everyone who was there from a neutral point of view would have said they couldn't see us not winning and we felt exactly the same.

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He continued: “Saturday is an opportunity now to go there and reverse that.”

“That five-minute spell to the game a few days later, led to another defeat and everything that happened in the next week. It was a pivotal five minutes for us.”

“That said we were the better team, by Darrell’s own admission, last time we played. It just shows that we can compete with a top-six team like that."

“They are a good group of players who are extremely hard working. Credit to Darrell for what he has achieved there in the last couple of years. He’s kept the group together and kept the momentum going to where they are now sitting in League One.

It won’t be an easy task for Barker & Co against a Rovers outfit who currently occupy a place just outside the Sky Bet League One play-offs but the Yorkshiremen hopes the team can take confidence from their display in the last meeting and use that to topple their opponents at the Memorial Stadium.